Roman Reigns
Photo Credit: Bill Pritchard

#ThankYouRoman – A Reminder That Wrestling Stars Real People With Actual Issues

The Roman Reigns cancer announcement and the outpouring of support from Joe Anoa’i’s peers under the #ThankYouRoman tag on Twitter has been incredibly moving to see tonight. It’s a reminder that professional wrestling is an art form performed by real people. While they appear to be larger than life superheroes on our televisions every week, they’re humans with their own personal issues and vices. Some struggle with life on the road, others are sidelined by unrelated road bumps, such as Reigns’ leukemia news tonight.

Wrestlers put their body on the line every single night to entertain the fans. We’re not always happy with the end product, and it’s perfectly fine to be critical of any form of entertainment, but that sacrifice always has to be remembered. Yes, there’s a paycheck involved for all parties putting on the show, but it’s an art form that takes a piece of the performer with them every time they perform. Their bodies wear down over time, and they do it because they love it.

This is why we have to all remember that professional wrestling is an industry put on by fellow humans. This is why topics such as wrestler unionization has importance, and why we should give a basic level of respect to every single performer that enters the squared circle. From the random jobber that appears on an episode of Monday Night RAW to the superstar that is headlining pay-per-views and acting in movies, they all deserve that level of respect from fans.

Everyone at WrestleZone would like to wish Roman Reigns a speedy recovery. He’s one of the many stars that help keep this business healthy, and wrestling is better off with a great person like Joe Anoa’i involved within it. Thank you, Roman. You’ve given us so much, and we hope to see you healthy and back in the ring doing what you love soon.

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